Tennessee Life

Last week I took a little road trip with my dad to Knoxville and Tellico Plains, TN where his family members are from and currently live.  I haven't been to visit in two years, and I was really missing them and Tennessee.  

My husband and I are city people.  We like to live in an area where there is a lot to do and places to go, but when I am in Tennessee, it's a much much more simple way of life that I really appreciate.  When we drive around Tellico Plains, I see the start of the Smokey Mountains, signs for the Cherokee National Forest and the Cherohala Skyway, a national scenic byway that starts in Tellico Plains and winds through the mountain and into North Carolina. When visiting family, it's a lot of sitting around talking, listening to stories and playing in the front yard.  We eat tons of banana pudding (and just a lot of food in general) and always take a drive through the center of town to see what has and hasn't changed since the last visit.  

When I am in Tennessee I feel a little bit of a disconnect with the life I live in northeast Ohio. I do not have internet. The roads are only two lanes, some of which do not even have lines on them.  You can look to your left and see cows, then look to your right and see chickens roaming the front yard of a house.  High heels and fashionable clothing are not needed. Vegetarian meals do not exist and you will probably encounter some crazy insect, animal or reptile while visiting the area.  

This past visit, I accidentally stepped on a fire ant mound that I didn't even know was there until I felt stings on my foot and saw that fire ants had taken over my shoe.  We also saw a large snapping turtle walking through the garden and some type of bee-ish insect buzzing around the flowers in the back yard.  I'm still wondering what that could have been...

Although it took me a few days to recover from my vacation and traveling, I am now home, cuddling my pups and hubs, continuing to celebrate my birth week with friends and playing with some new fabrics.  It's back to work and a weekly routine for me.